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14 August 2023
TeenTech is a national innovation competition that invites pupils to invent products that solve real-world problems. Over 1500 pupils entered the competition and, this year, Team Liberandum from Malvern St James secured first place in the Safety & Security Category, designing a QR code patch with different levels of authentication. The judges loved their product and wanted it to be available now.
In total, four teams from MSJ qualified for the grand finals held at the IET, London. Teams designed products, wrote code, created prototypes and gathered research to support their entries. The finals were a great opportunity for pupils to pitch to industry judges and network with other innovators from their peer groups.
Team Zermatt, designed by pupils Imogen, Sylvie and Faith, created an app, like Microsoft Teams, that made sure that homework was balanced with well-being – which also provided access to services such as well-being chats. On her experience, Imogen said:
“Overall, Teen Tech was a great experience. The judging process, whilst scary, was also very interesting and challenging to be able to explain our idea in full detail. The judges had many questions and brilliant stories to tell. Although my team didn’t win in our category, I loved working on and sharing our app with people and I cannot wait to go back next year as an ambassador.”
Eleanor & Maya, Year 8, created Shop with ME, an app designed to reduce waste and returns when online shopping, by users scanning their own body shape and creating a personal Avatar that can be used to see how clothes actually fit before ordering. In the awards ceremony, the team received an honourable mention in the Food & Retail category. The judges were impressed with their idea and commented on how well they presented and explained their app.
Helaina devised AVA, a box-like device that is designed to help calm people who have dementia, by using familiar music, favourite essential oils and photographs of loved ones, and was recognised for “Thinking Big & Bold”.
Participating in competitions like TeenTech is an important part of MSJ’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) provision.
